Small mare genetics

dctrainingandlessons · Very Active Member Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 548

I know we've heard similar on this board before. But here's my query!

There's this arabian mare I've been eyeing for over a year that is for sale in OK. The price is BETTER than RIGHT! I mean, just a great price. Mare is healthy, correct, and everything I could ask for in a foundation type mare. Just a jaw dropper. I've not saw her in person, but have viewed photo's and videos of her. I can't stress just how lovely and correct she is, with very old spanish breeding (I can't love those spanish arabians enough). She is just 5. Here's the kicker: She's only 13.3hh.

I'm not looking to produce 17 hand arabians here, but I do like a horse between 14.2 and 15.2. Can a mare this size have the potential to produce larger and correct horses? I'm not asking if she can carry a foal by a larger stallion, but if she would have the ability to produce larger? This, based also on the fact that it is likely her height is a fluke, both her dam and sire are 14.2 or taller.

I can't get over this mare. No matter the price or quality of breeding, this one stands out as my ideal arabian mare. And I keep going back to look at her time and time again!

Any input/shared experiences would be much appreciated.
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bullsie · Active Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 200

Don't forsee a problem with this mare producing nice sized offspring. Check out the height of some of her ancestors (she may have some size hidden back in there) and find a stallion that could 'help' give the size you desire. Just may take a little work to find the right stud. But an excellent mare is an excellent mare.

Inyureye · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:32 am Post subject:

Also, although I am not expert, it may be that there is an outside reason she is small, lost her dam early, some nutritional deficit. Can you find out if there is an outside reason for why she is so short?
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tazassape · Weanling Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 2 Location: La.

There is a reason she has been for sale for over a year. Think about it! I really don't think she'll have good sized babies. In our experiences we found that the mares are at least 80% responsible for the size of the foal. JMHO

bullsie · Active Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 200

So far, none of our foal crops have been influenced by the mares in height. Actually, we are producing foals far taller than their parents. But, we have appaloosas and not arabians. Could be the difference.

Kassie Finley · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 95 Location: Texas

We have a small 13.3 hand Quarter Horse mare that does produce large foals. Her 2006 filly is 14.2 hands already,and still has more growing to do. She looks good healthy and is going to make a great rider for someone, and is very sane and gentle. Even when this mare is bred to a stallion that is on the smaller side she still puts off on average about 14 and above.

bullsie · Active Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 200

Agreed, we bred a 15 hand stallion to a 14.1 mare and she produced a gorgeous 16+ bay leopard colt. Turned out, the mare's brothers were all 16+, and the studs dam was a tall horse. Never know what the genes will slip in!

misssquirrel · Member Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 90 Location: WI

my mare is about 14hh but she had strangles (sp) as a 2 yr old, and they ruptured out her knees and hocks, so she is a big body on short legs. her momma was about 16hh and her sire was about 15hh. her colt that she had this year was almost 16 inches from the middle of his knee to the ground, and he is almost as tall as her as a 7 month old.
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